I saw on Facebook that today is #NationalCoffeeDay. Well, every day is coffee day for me in my hometown. As I sit at my desk writing this today, I'm drinking a k-cup at home. This week's brew is Trader Joe's French Roast. I like it, and it is quite a bargain for under $5 for 12 cups. But truthfully, I cannot wait to be in Italy in a few weeks, and chat over a cup of coffee with my Skimbaco editor, Katja Presnal.
Unless you brew the absolute best coffee at home, coffee is so much better in a locally-owned coffee shop, especially when the coffee is roasted local. I do get around to coffee shops in my hometown. It's my guilty pleasure and one of the ways I live like a tourist (or maybe I should say, a European) in my own hometown.
In honor of National Coffee Day, here are some of my favorite haunts (in no particular order) in Greater Raleigh. When my coffee is served in a mug then I get really happy. I prefer ceramic when I sit somewhere and sip. That's the luxury side of me, I guess.
Benelux Coffee: This coffee shop was located in Raleigh's historic city market area, and I featured it as a favorite when I explored the market's sweeter side. They are about to open a new location at Cameron Village, and I look forward to that one because I'm known to swing by Cameron Village a lot.
La Farm Bakery in Cary: I'm not on this side of town in Cary often, but when I am, it's like my Audi just wants to pull into the parking lot, and order a latte and a pain au chocolat. La Farm also teaches some great baking classes. When you step in, you forget that you are in N.C.
BREW Coffee Bar: This is new to Raleigh, but I like it because it's easy to park, and a nice to place to sit. I love the Italian Amaretti cookie. They have cold Nitro brew, too, but I love to stick with my pretty coffees. I featured the Nitro Brew on Skimbaco.
Fresca Cafe and Gelato: This is shop is located in Waverly Place near Whole Foods in Cary. I bribe my kids with gelato so I can get a pretty coffee now and then. Easy parking, too.
YellowDog Bakery: I get coffee here when I'm hungry for a scone. Great scones baked here in the Mordecai area in downtown Raleigh. I usually get a regular cup of coffee with cream and sugar here. For me, it's about the scones first because it is a bakery. Coffee sure is good with it though. I also like it because I can pull right in front of the building and park. Guess you can tell that I like park at places easily.
Common Grounds Coffee Shop: This little coffee shop is in historic Apex on main street. It serves ice cream, too. Again, bribe my kids with ice cream so I can take a coffee break.
Gather Coffee Shop: I joke now and say I can spend some time in downtown Cary now because they finally have a coffee shop. Gather is just a cute place...well, to gather. All of its coffee drinks are brewed coffee-based using a local roaster.
Sola Coffee Cafe: I am not here as often as my blogging friends, but I had to mention it because it's such a cute place. If it was near my home, I would have to stop in daily. Fresh, local food and hot minis are served with a beautiful coffee in a red mug. It's a good 30 minutes away from home, but maybe if I give them enough publicity they will open a second location on my side of town.
There are some great coffee shops in the Triangle, and I have been to others that I love, too like Raleigh Times and Joule in downtown Raleigh, too.
Go ahead. Tell me your favorite coffee shop in your hometown. If I'm in your town, I may just try it. All photos except the great photo above by @TriangleExplorer have been featured on my @HinesSightBlog Instagram account. Follow me there, and get a cup of coffee virtually with me, especially next month in Italy.
Unless you brew the absolute best coffee at home, coffee is so much better in a locally-owned coffee shop, especially when the coffee is roasted local. I do get around to coffee shops in my hometown. It's my guilty pleasure and one of the ways I live like a tourist (or maybe I should say, a European) in my own hometown.
In honor of National Coffee Day, here are some of my favorite haunts (in no particular order) in Greater Raleigh. When my coffee is served in a mug then I get really happy. I prefer ceramic when I sit somewhere and sip. That's the luxury side of me, I guess.
Benelux Coffee: This coffee shop was located in Raleigh's historic city market area, and I featured it as a favorite when I explored the market's sweeter side. They are about to open a new location at Cameron Village, and I look forward to that one because I'm known to swing by Cameron Village a lot.
La Farm Bakery in Cary: I'm not on this side of town in Cary often, but when I am, it's like my Audi just wants to pull into the parking lot, and order a latte and a pain au chocolat. La Farm also teaches some great baking classes. When you step in, you forget that you are in N.C.
BREW Coffee Bar: This is new to Raleigh, but I like it because it's easy to park, and a nice to place to sit. I love the Italian Amaretti cookie. They have cold Nitro brew, too, but I love to stick with my pretty coffees. I featured the Nitro Brew on Skimbaco.
Fresca Cafe and Gelato: This is shop is located in Waverly Place near Whole Foods in Cary. I bribe my kids with gelato so I can get a pretty coffee now and then. Easy parking, too.
YellowDog Bakery: I get coffee here when I'm hungry for a scone. Great scones baked here in the Mordecai area in downtown Raleigh. I usually get a regular cup of coffee with cream and sugar here. For me, it's about the scones first because it is a bakery. Coffee sure is good with it though. I also like it because I can pull right in front of the building and park. Guess you can tell that I like park at places easily.
Common Grounds Coffee Shop: This little coffee shop is in historic Apex on main street. It serves ice cream, too. Again, bribe my kids with ice cream so I can take a coffee break.
Gather Coffee Shop: I joke now and say I can spend some time in downtown Cary now because they finally have a coffee shop. Gather is just a cute place...well, to gather. All of its coffee drinks are brewed coffee-based using a local roaster.
Sola Coffee Cafe: I am not here as often as my blogging friends, but I had to mention it because it's such a cute place. If it was near my home, I would have to stop in daily. Fresh, local food and hot minis are served with a beautiful coffee in a red mug. It's a good 30 minutes away from home, but maybe if I give them enough publicity they will open a second location on my side of town.
There are some great coffee shops in the Triangle, and I have been to others that I love, too like Raleigh Times and Joule in downtown Raleigh, too.
Go ahead. Tell me your favorite coffee shop in your hometown. If I'm in your town, I may just try it. All photos except the great photo above by @TriangleExplorer have been featured on my @HinesSightBlog Instagram account. Follow me there, and get a cup of coffee virtually with me, especially next month in Italy.
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